Image projection system

ABSTRACT

An image projection system comprises an image projector, such as a film or television projector and a projection screen The projection screen is fabricated of a substantially transparent material, such as glass or plastic. The screen of transparent material has one or more areas or portions formed therein which areas or portions may be made to be translucent upon the application of a stimulus. Once in a translucent condition, the projected image can be received and viewed on the translucent portion A mirror can be positioned behind the projection screen so that a person can view the reflection of themself in the mirror when the screen is transparent, and an image can be projected when the projection screen is made to be substantially translucent.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. PatentApplication Serial No. 09/519,537 entitled “Switchable TransparentScreens for Image Projection System.”

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention is generally related to the field of imageprojection systems.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0003] In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/519,537, an invention wasdisclosed whereby a substantially transparent medium could be used as aprojection screen for capturing an image from an image projector. Whenthe medium was not capturing an image from an image projector, itssubstantially transparent characteristic permitted persons to seethrough the medium. However, the system also provided an ability for themedium to capture an image from an image projector for viewing bypersons. In one embodiment, the medium was made to have a characteristicthat caused it to be nearly opaque, or substantially translucent(permitting the passage of light, but not sufficient as to be able toview objects clearly), so that persons could see clearly the imageprojected.

[0004] The present invention takes the advantages of this system tofurther uses

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, andthe advantages thereof, reference is now made to the followingdescriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates a prospective view of a projection screen inaccordance with the present invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the projection screen shown inFIG. 1;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a side view of an image projection system;

[0009]FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention,

[0010]FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention,

[0011]FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of an embodiment of the presentinvention, and

[0012] FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate alternative embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] In the following description, numerous specific details are setforth such as specific materials to provide a thorough understanding ofthe present invention However, it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that the present invention may be practiced without suchspecific details. In other instances, well-known circuits have beenshown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the presentinvention in unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerningtiming considerations and the like have been omitted in as much as suchdetails are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of thepresent invention and are within the skills of persons of ordinary skillin the relevant art.

[0014] While the specification concludes with claims defining thefeatures of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believedthat the invention will be better understood from a consideration of thefollowing description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in whichlike reference numerals are carried forward.

[0015] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated therein across-sectional side view of the image projection system 300 asdisclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/519,537. The system 300comprises a projector 301 of any type commonly used, examples of whichinclude an LCD projector, a television projector currently used onconventional projection television systems, a film projector, a slideprojector or a computer for providing computer generated images, to namebut a few. The system 300 further includes a projection screen 101.However, the projection screen herein is a glass or other transparent(or semi-transparent) material, having one or more switchable portions.More particularly, the screen 101 may comprise a sheet of glass having aportion 102 or portions that can be switched between the glass' typicaltransparent characteristic, to a translucent appearance or condition.Projector 301 may project an image onto portion 102, which will beviewable by viewers on both sides of screen 101 when portion 102 istranslucent, on the right side when it is opaque. Alternatively, whenportion 102 is translucent or opaque, another projector 302 can be usedto project an image onto the other side of screen 101 so that such animage is viewable by viewers on the left side of screen 101 Theinvention is also applicable for projection on reflective surfaces suchas mirrors.

[0016] As is readily apparent, light, as from a projected image,projected onto a sheet of glass or other transparent material leaves noreadily viewable impression. This is due of course to the fact that theprojected light passes substantially unimpeded through the glass.Accordingly, heretofore retail establishments, for example, having largeareas of display glass windows were forced to post paper signadvertising, for example, an on-going sale. This type of advertising isneither dynamic, nor particularly effective. Conversely, an advertisingscheme taking advantage of the projection system described herein hasmany advantages. In particular, by projecting an image onto thetranslucent area of the glass substrate, the projected image is visibleby viewers on both sides of the glass. Moreover, while only a portion ofthe glass or other substrate may by switchable between the transparentand the translucent condition, the whole of the substrate may in fact beswitchable. This allows a condition in which, for example, a glass panebecomes an entire wall of e g., advertising area.

[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the transparent screen 101 may bea glass panel such as a display window, or some other type oftransparent medium. Examples of such transparent media include varioustypes of plastics, cast or fabricated as plastic sheets. The switchableportion 102 switches between the transparent (or semi-transparent)state, which is unsuitable for the receipt of a projected image, to atranslucent or opaque state which will readily receive a projectedimage.

[0018] The switchable portion 102 may be provided by equipping thetransparent screen 101 with an electrical, chemical or photosensitivematerial which is transparent in the absence of a stimulus, but switchesto a translucent or opaque state upon receipt of a particular stimulus.Examples of electrochromic, photochromic, and electrophoretic materialswhich may be advantageously employed in this function are well known tothose of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a polymer dispersedliquid crystal material as is commonly available may be sandwichedbetween sheets of glass or plastic in one or more portions of atransparent sheet. As oriented in the standard configuration, themolecules of liquid crystal material will allow for the passage of lighttherethrough, i.e., the portion is transparent. However, uponapplication of a relatively small electrical stimulus, the molecules ofliquid crystal material may be made to change their orientation, thustaking on a translucent or nearly opaque appearance and making such areaof the transparent sheet suitable for the receipt of a projected image.Such switchable materials are disclosed within J. W. Doane et al.,Displays from a New Type of Liquid Crystal Microdroplet Dispersion,IEEE, 1985 International Display Research Conference, pp. 153-154(1985); J. W. Doane et al., Wide-Angle-View PDLC Displays, SID 90DIGEST, pp 224-226 (1990); Z. Yaniv et al., Active Matrix PolymerDispersed Liquid Crystal Display, JAPAN DISPLAY, pp. 572-575 (1989),which are all incorporated by reference herein

[0019] Alternatively, the medium 101 may be coated with a special resincalled a photopolymer which is capable of refracting light in the mannerof a prism. The screen is configured to polarize the incident lightfalling on different areas of the screen (angle of incidence at screencenter may be 35°) so that it emerges from the front evenly to produce abright and clear image with a high degree of uniformity Thus, when theprojector is off, light entering the medium in a substantiallyperpendicular manner will be allowed to pass through so that a personcan see directly through the medium. However, if an image is projectedat a specified angle to the medium, such an image is projected onto themedium for viewing. Such a projection system is available commerciallyfrom Hitachi.

[0020] While FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate but a single switchable portion102 on the transparent sheet 101, it is to be understood that theinvention is not so limited. For example, and as is illustrated in FIG.4, a plurality of image projectors 404, 405 may be used to provide aplurality of projected images onto a plurality of switchable portions402, 403 of a transparent sheet 401 or plural sheets. Such an embodimentwould have great utility in, for example, retail settings.

[0021] In yet another embodiment, two or more portions may be arrangedin an overlapping relationship. This overlapping relationship may beeither a situation in which two portions directly overlay one another,or partially do so. If two overlay one another completely, such aconfiguration may be employed to allow images to be projected indiffering light conditions. For example, the first portion may be adarker translucent portion for better image quality in a first set oflight conditions, while the second portion may be a lighter translucentportion adapted for a second set of light conditions. Each of theportions would of course be independently controllable.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a projection system inaccordance with the present invention whereby an image projector 501 isprojecting an image onto portion 102 of medium 101. A microcontroller orpersonal computer (PC) 503 may control what images are projected byprojector 501, and may control a shutter 502 so that projector 501 canremain continuously on, without having to be turned on and off, andmerely provide for the projection of the image out of the projector 501in accordance with the algorithm as described below with respect to FIG.6. Simultaneously, when the shutter 502 is opened, the medium 101 can bemade to have its portion 102 be translucent for receipt of the projectedimage

[0023]FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of this process. In step 601,microcontroller 503 will send an image to projector 501. In step 602,shutter 502 is opened In step 603, the image is projected by projector501. In step 604, substantially simultaneously with the opening of theshutter in step 602, the portion 102 is transformed to a translucentstate for receipt of the projected image. At a later time, in step 605,the shutter 502 will be closed stopping projection of the imageSubstantially simultaneously with step 605, portion 102 of screen 101will be switched to a transparent state.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 7A, there is illustrated an alternativeembodiment of the present invention where screen 101 is placed in frontof a mirror 701 shown in side view. As a result, when screen 101 is in atransparent state, viewer 702 will see a reflection of the viewer. Whenscreen 101 is placed in a translucent state and shutter 502 is opened toallow projection of an image from projector 501, viewer 702 will see theprojected image onto screen 101.

[0025] As an example, referring to FIG. 7B, there is shown a front viewof the system in FIG. 7A where a viewer 702 sees himself/herself throughthe transparent screen 101 within the mirror 701. FIG. 7C illustratesthe system when an image is projected onto screen 101 so that viewer 702now sees the projected image.

[0026]FIGS. 7D and 7E illustrate an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention where screen 101 is positioned in front of mirror 701so that when the screen 101 is in a transparent state, with no imagebeing projected, the viewer 702 sees himself/herself in mirror 701 FIG.7E illustrates the projection of a clothing article, such as a dress705, projected onto screen 101 so that viewer 702, who seeshimself/herself partially in mirror 701, can view himself/herself in avirtual image with the dress

[0027] Alternatively, a film implementing the properties of screen 101could be attached directly onto the glass surface of the mirror.

[0028] Furthermore, screen 101 could be positioned so that it isincognito and thus does not present an image to be reflected in mirror701. Then, when an image is projected onto screen 101 (maybe inreverse), it will be reflected by mirror 701, and viewed by persons.

[0029] Although the present invention and its advantages have beendescribed in detail, it should be understood that various changes,substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image projection system comprising: a screen;a projector for projecting an image; and a shutter for permittingpassage of the image from the projector to the screen, wherein thescreen is configured to allow an object to be viewed through the screenwhen the shutter is closed, and wherein the screen is configured toreflect the image projected from the projector when the shutter is openin substantially a manner so that the reflected image is primarilyviewed as opposed to the object.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1,wherein the screen further comprises a material that reflects the imagewhen it is projected at an angle relative to the screen.
 3. The systemas recited in claim 1, wherein the screen further comprises a materialthat is substantially transparent when the screen is configured to allowthe object to be viewed through the screen, and wherein the material issubstantially translucent when the image is projected upon it.
 4. Amethod for projecting an image comprising the steps of: delivering animage to a projector; opening a shutter on the projector so that theimage is projected from the projector onto a screen; modifying acharacteristic of the screen so that the projected image issubstantially reflected by the screen; closing the shutter on theprojector so that the image is no longer projected from the projectoronto the screen; and modifying the characteristic of the screen so thatthe screen is substantially transparent.
 5. The method as recited inclaim 4, wherein the step of modifying the characteristic of the screenso that the projected image is substantially reflected by the screencauses the screen to be substantially translucent.
 6. An imageprojection system comprising: a screen controllable between a firststate of being substantially transparent and a second state of beingsubstantially translucent; a projector; a mirror, wherein the screen ispositioned near the mirror, circuitry for placing the screen in thefirst state; circuitry for placing the screen in the second state, andcircuitry for projecting an image from the projector onto the screenwhen it is in the second state so that a person views the imagereflected from the screen.
 7. The system as recited in claim 6, whereinthe screen is positioned so that when it is in the second state, theperson can still view a portion of their reflection in the mirror. 8.The system as recited in claim 6, further comprising a controller forcontrolling the projector, projecting circuitry and placing circuitriesin a manner so that the image is projected from the projectorsubstantially simultaneously when the screen is switched from the firststate to the second state.
 9. The system as recited in claim 8, whereinthe controller controls the projector, projecting circuitry and placingcircuitries in a manner so that the image is not projected from theprojector substantially simultaneously when the screen is switched fromthe second state to the first state.
 10. The system as recited in claim6, wherein when the screen is placed in the first state, the person canview their reflection in the mirror through the screen.
 11. An imageprojection system comprising: a transparent or semi-transparent surface;and a projector for projecting an image on the transparent orsemi-transparent surface, wherein the transparent or semi-transparentsurface has a characteristic that enhances viewability of the image whenprojected onto the surface.